Wheel Chair Experience

         I was really excited to do this activity and to experience what it is like to be in a wheel chair. These last few hours have been difficult but have helped me to see a point of view I would have never understood without it. I was surprised by how difficult it is to push the wheels to get moving. It requires a lot of upper body strength which I do not have. I was also surprised to see how some people would rush to my aid while others would completely avoid eye contact.  Here is my experience.

                From the very moment I sat in the wheel chair I knew it was going to be a long day. I had difficulty just getting through the door and keeping in a straight line. Getting situated in the elevator was hard and I ended up having to back out after I reached my floor. I had a class in the Clark building to get to.  I decided to do the first challenge which was to open the door without using the automatic door button. I tried my hardest to push the door open but was truly struggling, I can’t imagine being a disabled person before ADA was a law and buildings had to become accessible. I was lucky to have someone rush to my aid and finish opening the door for me so I could, very clumsily, push through the door.

Going downhill was not very difficult other then I had to make sure that I did not pick up to much speed, if I was going to do this simulation again I would wear gloves. As I tried to slow myself down my hands burned but I did not want to get going to fast. Using the automatic door button was a blessing when I arrived to the Clark building. I got back into an elevator and headed up to the third floor. I got some weird looks and looks of compassion and sorrow during my ride down to the Clark.

I asked a student where the printer was and she kindly pointed it out but seemed a little uncomfortable. When I got the floor of my classroom there was two janitors there and one of them would not stop staring at me, it made me feel uncomfortable. I also saw a girl who was in a wheel chair and she stopped to say hi to me. Hers was motorized; it is almost like an entire new world when one is sitting all of the time.

                Class time was awkward, everyone was asking me what happened and desks had to be moved around in order for me to fit. I told people that I was clumsy and had fallen that way I could get the entire experience. People were very sympathetic and offered to help me do everything. It was difficult to allow them to help me but the stimulation rules told me to accept their help, it was a humbling experience. At this time I was finally move around well other than still struggling to get through doors.

                On my way out of the building I had a very long hill climb to make. I figured out very quickly that this was going to take a long time, and a lot of physical strength. I was so lucky to have someone come and help push me most of the way there, to the Kimball building. After he stopped helping me another girl came and offered to push me the rest of the way to the Hinckley. It is so nice to go to a school where some students are very service oriented. I finished by attempting to use the bathroom. Getting the wheel chair to fit in the stall was hard enough. It took all of my body strength to lift my body off the wheel chair. Getting out of the stall was even more difficult because it was so small. It took me a long time to move the wheel chair around that I could easily push myself out of the door.

                When I got a drink the water fountain was just slightly to high and I ended up getting water all over my face. This experience has taught me a lot, I have an entire new perspective on what it is like to be confined to a wheel chair. Some people were so kind and helpful while others were very uncomfortable and completely avoided making eye contact with me. This experience is going to help me a lot with my future students because I now know how important it is to help the child but not to overly help them. I also will be more considerate to those in a wheel chair and make sure I am acknowledging them. This experience has made me a better teacher and has helped to reshape my teaching philosophy.

Planning A Wedding

I always thought planning a wedding would be so much fun, but man was I wrong. Planning was so stressful and I don't know what I would have done without my mom and the rest of my family and friends helping me.

One of the first things I did was go dress shopping. I must have tried 6 different stores and my favorite experience was at Margines, not only do they have an amazing dress selection but a great staff to. There prices are great also! I also went to David Bridals and had a terrible experience there and they are still contacting me trying to sell me things.

I took my mom and my sister-in-law, Mindy. Here is the dress I fell in love with, I knew right away when I put it on that it was my beautiful princess dress. It also was on sale which just deepened my love for it. They asked me to try on a few more dresses but every time I just wanted to be put back into my princess gown. Here are some pictures taken by Valerie Bybee.

This is one of my all time favorite pictures from the wedding, it is taken at the Utah Capitol Building. Also, this picture shows my veil which my mom ordered off the internet from China, it was a bet but it turned out beautiful.

This is a picture of first looks, Jaron wasn't allowed to turn around and look while I stood behind him. I hope that gives everyone an idea of the look of the front of my dress.

Picking the dress out was probably one of the easier things about wedding planning. The hardest was defiantly figuring out the invitations and getting them all mailed out. It was hard to remember everyone and even now I remember people I forgot to invite; sorry, to everyone I missed!

My dad built me a beautiful back board for us to stand in front of. Here is a look at it,

Although, I would like to say I did a lot of the planning it truly was my mom who worked so hard to make my entire wedding turn out perfect. I am so grateful for her and making one of my dreams come true.

Engagement Part Two

After Jaron proposed to me we took our engagement photos. This was a lot of fun. Here are some of my favorites.

After we took engagement pictures Jaron surprised me again and took me to the Hogle Zoo where I saw a giraffe for the very first time. I love going to the zoo so much so I was extremely excited. After words we went and walked around Temple Square. I love the environment and the spirit that can be felt there. I loved looking at all the newlyweds and thinking in just a few months that will be us.

The Engagement

October 26, 2013

As a little girl I looked forward to the day I would be proposed too and always wondered how it would be done. Never in a million years would I have imagined a proposal so perfect, and so special. He thought of everything from a hidden photographer, to what we would be doing afterword's.

Jaron had told me not to make plans for that upcoming Saturday because he had a surprise for me. I hate surprises and did everything possible to find out what was going to happen. We had already been ring shopping so I had a hunch that he was going to propose. My mom however made sure I wouldn't find out by telling me that he hadn't even asked them for their blessing first. Even with this knowledge I was hoping my mom was lying and that he would be proposing.

He picked me up early in the morning and we began a long drive. I had no clue where we were going but eventually we passed the Utah border so I knew we would be doing something there. As we were approaching Farmington, Jaron asked me to put on a blind fold. I completely trusted him so I tied it over my face. Being me, I began to get really car sick but luckily we arrived quickly. He had me keep my blind fold on while he walked me to some seats. By now I knew what was going on and I had already started crying.

Jaron plays the guitar and had written me a beautiful song. He told me I could take off my blind fold when I heard my name. Then he began to sing and play, the song was about how much he loved Autumn time, and how I had changed his life. When I took of the blind fold I was surrounded by beautiful trees with the leaves changing. After the song was over he got down on one knee and proposed to me while I was sobbing. I, as you probably know, said yes!

Here are some pictures from the proposal that were done by my sister-in-law Valerie.

 

 

 

 

The Camping Trip and First Date

Last summer our singles ward held a camping trip up in Island Park. I decided I wanted to go and I knew Jaron was going to be the were too. Although we had been texting a lot we had not spoke a ton in person so I was very nervous (something I felt a lot in the beginning of our relationship because I didn't want to mess things up). We had a lot of fun and that night there was a mini ward talent show around the campfire.

Jaron had been asked to play his guitar and sing, I was very excited to hear what he could do. He sang some country songs and I love country and I felt like he was singing each love country song to me. It was during that time I believe I really started to fall in love with him. He completely drew me in and he still does every time he picks up that guitar. That night we went for a walk under the stars and had the best hug I have ever had.

The next day I road home with him and he held my hand for the very first time. We were trying to take things slow (you all can see how that worked out) so when he decided to hold my hand it really was like magic. I swear that sparks flew, as cheesy as that sounds. When we arrived back home, instead of going our separate ways, Jaron and I sat in his truck and talked for hours. In the middle of one of our conversations he leaned over and kissed me. I was completely shocked but it was absolutely amazing.

Some friends from the ward invited us on a double date that night up to Buffalo Wild Wings and then to go see a movie. We decided to go because after such an eventful day we didn't want to leave each other. The date was interesting to say the least... The other couple we went with we didn't know very well and they had quite the personalities. Although, it was not the ideal first date it was still a lot of fun.

After that day we spent every second we possibly could together. I would go over to his house after work nearly every day for about an hour just so we could talk and laugh. He would also come over to mine and we would watch lots of movies and just go for walks. We defiantly fell In love very quickly and only months after we became engaged.

The Beginning

Hello Everyone!
I wanted to start this blog to record my life as a newlywed. I have really failed at journal keeping and want Jaron and my story to be written down somewhere. I will be starting from the very beginning on how we met.

After I graduated I began to attend the singles ward. I was very excited to get out of my home ward and explore the world. I was not looking to date anybody because I was preparing to attend college and to begin dating all those college boys, that was until Sacrament meeting last July. There I was minding my own business when the Bishop called me out in front of everyone on the pulpit and asked if I was going to go to the Softball game. Of course, I was not planning on it since I do not play sports. I decided with some push from a friend who promised she would go with me that I would go. Plus, the entire ward saw me say yes in the chapel to our Bishop.

When I arrived on the fields I was extremely nervous because I had never played before. Our team leader put me in the out-field and luckily someone who played softball a lot and was extremely good at Softball was placed right next to me! We introduced ourselves and I found out his name is Jaron. I thought he was extremely good looking and so I flirted with him hoping to catch his attention. We really hit it off and when we were switching to in-field we attempted to do a running high-five, and completely missed! I spent most of the night staring at him and trying to find out more information from some of the other girls in the ward. After we "epically" lost the game we went our separate ways.

I remember going home and telling my mom that I had a great time and told her that I had met someone. She just rolled her eyes and said, "of course" because I am such a flirt. Two days later there was a Pioneer Day celebration and I thought for sure Jaron was going to be there. I did my hair and got all cute and he never showed up! After a huge disappointment I decided if we ran into each other again then fine, but I needed to stop hoping.

Luckily, we did run into each other again at Institute and we were paired up together as partners in one of the scripture activities.  We always went to Rupes after words to have ice-cream and so I sat by Jaron and he shared his fries with me. That is when we took our first picture together! I told him I was just going to Snapchat my best friend Lauren but secretly I took a screen shot of it so I could show my mom how cute he is!

 There was a movie that weekend for the YSA ward but I couldn't go because I was getting my wisdom teeth out. I told him he had to bring me some ice cream though. He asked for my number and we started texting that night and never stopped. (He never ended up bringing me that ice cream but that's okay I forgive him)!

I defiantly can see our Heavenly Father's hand in how we met. Seeing how our Bishop followed a prompting and called my name to go to the Softball game, then being paired up at the fields, and becoming institute partners that night. All the pieces seem to fit perfectly together and I am so grateful that He brought Jaron into my life!